A familiar cruise buffet habit is stirring debate: should passengers ever step ahead of the line just to pick up one item?
It might seem like a small shortcut, especially if someone only wants a piece of fruit or toast. But for people who have been waiting, it can feel frustrating—and a little rude.
Etiquette expert Diane Gottsman, who is based in Texas, said cutting in is generally inappropriate, whether the buffet is on a cruise ship, at a restaurant or at a wedding. It can also slow everyone down and create a bottleneck.
There may be a little room for exceptions. Reaching over for a napkin is different from stepping ahead to take food, Gottsman said. And if the line is short, politely asking to grab a fork or knife may be reasonable.
Saving a place for someone else can be another source of tension. Gottsman said a child may get a pass, but adults who join a friend or spouse farther along may annoy people who have been waiting for 20 or 30 minutes.
If someone cuts ahead, Gottsman generally recommends letting a minor offense go rather than starting a confrontation. If it keeps happening, passengers can bring it to a dining-room manager and let staff address it.
Travelers don’t all agree on where the line is. In one online discussion, people debated whether it was acceptable to move ahead when the queue had formed only for the first dish, while other buffet items farther along were unoccupied.
Some said it was fine if there was plenty of space, but not if someone had to squeeze between people. Others suggested a simple test: if the move makes anyone in line wait, it counts as cutting.
